TEHRAN, YJC. The following is the full text of the message issued on March 20, 2014 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, on the occasion of Nowruz.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O Conqueror of hearts and sight,
O Planner of night and day,
O Transformer of power and circumstances,
Change our condition to the best of conditions.
O Allah, Your blessings be upon Fatimah, her father, her husband and her children.
O Allah, be for Your representative, the Hujjat, son of al-Hasan, Your blessings be on him and his forefathers, in this hour and in every hour, a guardian, a protector, a leader, a helper, a proof, and a watchful eye until you make him reside on the earth, in obedience (to You), and cause him to live in it for a long time.
O Allah, hasten his re-appearance and place us among his companions, his supporters and his Shia.
I would like to offer my congratulations to all my dear fellow countrymen throughout Iran and to all the Iranians who live in different parts of the world – particularly to the esteemed families of martyrs, to disabled war veterans, to their spouses and to all those people who have made and continue to make efforts on the path of Islam and Iran and who have shouldered and continue to shoulder different responsibilities – on the occasion of the arrival of the new year. I would like to extend my congratulations to all the nations who honor Nowruz and who hold it in high esteem.
This year, the arrival of the new year coincides with the two narrations of the Fatemiyyahs and the martyrdom anniversary of the great lady of the world of Islam, Saddiqat al-Kubra (s.a.). By Allah’s favor, this coincidence will help our people to benefit from the blessings of Fatemi enlightenment, to place themselves in the radius of the teachings of that great personality and to enlighten themselves with the light of divine guidance which has been bestowed upon all the people throughout the world through Fatimah Zahra- Allah’s greetings upon her- and the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.s.) household.
The passage of different years should both be an experience and a source of foresight for us. We should learn from the past and we should look to the future and make decisions for it with open eyes and with wise hearts. I ask Allah the Exalted to bestow health, enthusiasm, psychological security, peace of mind, progress, transcendence and happiness on our dear Iranians in this new year. I hope that He bestows enthusiasm and dynamism on our youth. I hope that He bestows firm determination and willpower on our men and women so that they can take glorious paths. I hope that He bestows happiness and health on our children and I hope that He bestows security, kindness and compassion on our families.
Our responsibility is to look to the past in order to learn a lesson and to look to the future for making plans and taking decisions. It was announced that last year was "The Year of Political and Economic Valor”. Thankfully, political valor was achieved – in the best way possible - in different arenas including the arena of elections, great rallies, the presence of the people in different areas and the efforts that were made by both officials and the people throughout the year.
Last year was the year of the transfer of administrations and the transfer of power. This was done with tranquility and utmost security in the country and thankfully a new link in the long chain of the management of the country was created.
But on the issue of economic valor, what should have been done and what was expected to be done was not done. Certain efforts were made which are appreciated, but the great task that should be carried out in the arena of economic valor is still ahead of us. We are responsible for achieving this epic. The issue of economy is an important issue for our country and our people. Thankfully, a theoretical infrastructure was designed for economic valor and the policies on the economy of resistance were announced at the end of the year 1392. By Allah’s favor, the ground is prepared to make the necessary efforts in this regard.
From the viewpoint of this humble person, there are two issues which are more important than anything else in our outlook towards the year 1393. One is the issue of economy and the other is the issue of culture. What is expected in both arenas and areas is a collaborative effort by the officials of the country and the people. What is expected to be done in order to build life and the future cannot be done without the people’s cooperation. Therefore, in addition to the officials’ management, the presence of the people in both arenas – the arena of economy and the arena of culture - is necessary and fundamental. Without the presence of the people, the task at hand will not be carried out and the goal will not be achieved.
The people in various public groupings can play a role with firm determination and with national willpower. Officials too need popular support in order to move the task forward in the right way. They too should enter the arena by relying on Allah the Exalted and by benefiting from divine blessings, divine approval and the people’s assistance. They should do this both in the arena of the economy and culture.
God willing, I will explain all these issues to the people of Iran in the speech that I will deliver next Friday. So, I think what is ahead of us in this new year is an economy that will blossom with the help of officials and the people and a culture that can determine the direction of the great movement of our country and our people with the determination of officials and the people.
This is why I have named this year "The Year of Economy and Culture with National Determination and Jihadi Management”. I hope that Allah the Exalted will help both the people and the honorable officials to carry out their responsibilities in this area. I hope that He will make the holy heart of the Imam of the Age- may our souls be sacrificed for his sake- pleased with us and I hope that He will make the immaculate soul of our magnanimous Imam (r.a.) and the pure souls of our dear martyrs satisfied and pleased with us.
Greetings be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings